Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are all the rage in higher education today, but you may be wondering – what in the world is a MOOC in the first place and why does it matter?
In simple terms, it is a free course available online to whoever wants to take it no matter their location. An individual just needs to log on and sign up. It’s that simple. The draw is that it’s a no-cost way to learn virtually anything. The courses are gaining so much popularity that many colleges and universities are granting credit. The educational landscape is changing rapidly.
This article by Dominic Basulto appeared last month in the Washington Post. It’s a good overview of what MOOCs have to offer and why this trend matters to every school-aged student.